Incohat Ismene : The Dream Narrative as a Mode of Female Discourse in Epic Poetry
Emma Scioli
Transactions of the American Philological Association (1974-) March 1, 2010 DOI: 10.1353/apa.0.0049 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Theoretical or philosophical paper Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Citations | 1 |
| Key points | Argues that Ismene's nightmare in Thebaid book 8, read alongside other female dream narrations and female expressive modes in epic, reveals Statius's sympathy with the female perspective on the poem's horrific war and foreshadows the subsequent inadequacy of words in reaction to such horror. |
Abstract
This article examines Ismene's nightmare in book 8 of Statius's Thebaid by contextualizing it within the epic's narrative, comparing it with the dream narrations of other female characters in epic poetry, and aligning it with other typically female modes of subjective expression in epic, such as weaving, teichoscopy, and lamentation. My analysis shows that by exposing the difficulties inherent in retelling a dream, Statius demonstrates sympathy with the female perspective on the horrific war that constitutes the central action of his poem and foreshadows the subsequent inadequacy of words in reaction to such horror.